Coursing Scene: Two Greyhounds in Pursuit of a Hare
Painting on canvas • Attributed to the British School; manner of John Wootton or James Seymour, possibly a later follower of the sporting art tradition like Thomas Weaver.
Style & Movement
British Sporting Art / Romanticism
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas; applied using fine brushwork for the hounds and broader, blended strokes for the atmospheric sky. Notable use of linear perspective in the landscape and anatomical precision in the animals.
Creation Period
Early 19th Century (circa 1810–1840)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 18 x 24 inches; Landscape format
Subject Description
A traditional coursing scene depicting two greyhounds (one fawn/white, one black) in full gallop pursuing a hare in the lower left foreground. A rider in a top hat on horseback observes from a mid-ground ridge. The background features a rolling English landscape under a dramatic, cloudy sky with a centralized patch of blue.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; reflecting its age with significant craquelure across the surface.
Estimated Market Value
$2,500 – $4,500
Auction Estimate
$1,500 – $3,000
Provenance History
Unknown; stylistic cues suggest it originated from a British country house collection or a private collection specializing in equestrian and sporting themes.
Art Historical Significance
An example of the British 'Sporting Art' genre which rose to prominence in the 18th and 19th centuries to celebrate the lifestyles of the landed gentry. It illustrates the specialized breeding of sight hounds and reflects the social history of rural English pastimes.
Notable Features
Excellent anatomical rendering of the greyhounds' 'double-suspension' gallop. The gilded frame features intricate floral and rocaille ornamentation typical of the 19th-century revival styles.
Condition Issues
Extensive 'alligator' craquelure throughout the sky and foreground, suggesting a brittle paint film or movement in the canvas. Some yellowing of the varnish and possible minor retouching along the top edge. The canvas appears to have been relined or tightened.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional cleaning to remove discolored varnish, stabilization of the paint layer to prevent flaking in heavily cracked areas, and housing in a climate-controlled environment to minimize further expansion and contraction of the support.